Claude Thompson,72, Legendary Choreographer, Performer and Teacher
Claude Thompson, whose career spanned over 55 years, died in his home with friends at his side on Tuesday, May 31st. Thompson was born in Brooklyn, William Cord Thompson Jr. He started dancing at age13 and graduated from the High School of the Performing Arts in New York. His first job was hoofing and singing in small night clubs while still in his teens. His first Broadway experience was dancing in the chorus of "My Darlin' Aida" at age 15, while still attending High School and continuing his night club work. From Aida he went on to appear in Jamaica with Lena Horne choreographed by Jack Cole, House of Flowers with Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll choreographed by Herbert Ross, Shin Bone Alley with Earth Kitt, Mr. Wonderful with Sammy Davis Jr. and Bravo Giovanni with Michelle Lee.
Thompson performed in concerts choreographed by greats such as Louis Johnson, Geoffrey Holder, Walter Nicks, Tally Beatty, and Donald McKayle. He was a guest artist in Alvin Ailey's first company formed in 1958. One of the many highlights of Thompson's career occurred when he danced the role of Porgy, entirely on his knees, in the ballet version of "Porgy and Bess" for "The Gershwin Years," an NBC television special. The show was choreographed by Joe Layton and Thompson performed with Carmen De Lavallade, Alvin Ailey and Harold Pearson.
Thompson followed Hermes Pan as choreographer of the film version of "Finian's Rainbow," which earned him critical raves. He choreographed a tour of "Kiss Me Kate" and played the role of Paul in that show. Thompson choreographed or staged television specials for Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll and Robert Goulet. His work on the NBC TV special "Petula" starring Petula Clark with Harry Belafonte broke the color line in network variety television as Thompson's choreography included having the two stars touch. He choreographed or staged night club acts for Juliet Prowse, Diahann Carroll, Connie Stevens, George Chakiris, George Hamilton, Sammy Davis Jr., Debbie Reynolds, Pia Zadora, Manhattan Transfer, The Staple Singers and Sylvie Vartan. His choreography for "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" at the Huntington Hartford Theatre earned him the Drama Logue Critics Award and the NAACP Image Award as choreographer of the year. Thompson choreographed the television mini-series, "Roots" and the films, "Finian's Rainbow," starring Fred Astaire and Petula Clark, "King Kong," "JoJo Dancer" and "The Color Purple."
Through the years Thompson had been a personal and group instructor for many well-known performers, choreographers, teachers and dancers. As a teacher his reputation was such that, with few exceptions, the top choreographers and dancers had all at one time or another studied with him. Claude Thompson is survived by his sister, Inez Jones, his brother Frank and his nephew Phillip.